"Dear Friends of the Forest Park Conservancy,
Today, I have some very sad news to share with you. Monty Smith, former Board member and 2005-2008 President of Friends of Forest Park, Wildwood walker extraordinaire, and a leader in evolving the Forest Park Conservancy, died Saturday morning after taking is his own life at Cape Horn in the Columbia Gorge.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday June 12th at 2pm, First Unitarian Church, SW 12th & Main, Portland, OR 97205, (Entrance on NW corner, Parking on NE corner)
We are all shocked and very saddened by this news and we are all left wondering what happened and why. Monty struggled with severe depression his entire life and to a very few dear loved ones, admitted that he had two faces: the friendly and giving person that he showed his friends, and another face of deep depression that he kept hidden from most of the world.
Monty was a life saver, quite literally, through his extraordinary work with the Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR). As Scott Diamond, President of PMR said, “When saving lives in the mountains we find a way to control our emotions and get the job done, but grieving the loss of a close friend is different. Harder to understand. Harder to deal with.” The family has asked that donations be made to PMR in Monty’s honor
Monty was indeed an extraordinary man, giving to a fault, passionate about the wonder and majesty of the outdoors, loving and generous in so, so many ways. He will be very deeply missed by all of us.
As Monty wrote in his last column for the Forest Park Conservancy, “There’s a line from a Bruce Springstein song that rides like a spark on a circuit in my head: ‘Lost track of..,how far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed.”And while his climbing days are over, for those of you that knew Monty, and even if you didn’t, when you are out there in Forest Park, recall the man that loved the heights, loved being of service, loved The Boss and walked the entire Wildwood the day after Thanksgiving, year and after year. The echo of his footfall and his warm smile will embrace you.
Please keep Monty’s family in your thoughts and prayers.
For Monty and for the Forest, I am
Sincerely yours,
Michelle Bussard
Executive Director
Forest Park Conservancy "
Monty was a friend. The first time I met Monty he told me he was going to be in charity run the following day. I asked him how far was he running....5, 10 miles maybe. His answer "100 miles in a day".
I thought "you crazy man"....but he did it. He was truly amazing. RIP my friend.
